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So colour me unsurprised that my results from two weeks ago are not so hot:

VL: 96,000 (Log 5)CD4: 247 (12%)

Resistance testing (on the sample taken previously) has been ordered but I've known since 2005 that I have high level resistance to all the nukes. We think I'm still susceptible to the non-nukes and the PIs, but perhaps I'll turn out to be Fucked by the Fickle Finger of Fate there as well.

In any event the Frau is planning to switch my combo to Raltegravir/Ritonavir/Duranavir, resistance tests permitting. She suggested that I don't stop my current meds until the change over. I suggested she stick that idea as far up her ass as decency (and convenience) would permit.

Also I had a gruesome dental experience on Monday involving an Arab, ineffective anaesthesia and a recalcitrant molar, but that doesn't bear further explanation.

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

Ral , Prezista/Norvir is a good salvage therapy. Resistence to Ral, hopefully will not be a problem for you since the drug is relatively new ( resistance would only happen if you happened to be re-infected with a strain resistent to that drug). This combination is powerful. Even with many mutations in the pi class, prezista can still work wonders. Both of these drugs will squash your vl. Ral can show a decent increase in cd4s. Of course, diligent adherence is absolutely necessary, since ral has a low barrier to failure(one mutation).Sides are minimal.

Mikey has some experience with this but apparently truvada resistance "Fades" with time. I have no idea what the mechanism is for this, or why it happens but he isn't the only one who I've heard say this.

This is not a disaster. If my OP gave that impression, then I apologise. It was a venting of spleen. As a gent of ample carriage I have much spleen to vent.

Over the years I have played fast and loose with my HIV. There have been times when I have not been diligent in my adherence to treatment, though I have been good for the last 18 months or so.

But if you gamble with this virus, you must expect to reap the bitter dividend. You newly diagnosed and fucking know-it-all types should pay close attention to my example. You are not 12 feet tall and bullet proof.

To paraphrase Phillip J. Fry, I don't regret my decisions but I both rue and lament them.

I'm resistant to the Nukes. What of it? Philly is resistant to just about everything and still he doesn't die. I am confident that I will have ample options in the non-nuke and PI classes, not to mention the integrase inhibitor and entry inibitor classes too.

Treatment wise I am blessed with an embarrassment of riches.

So enough of this hand wringing! Tomorrow Australia will most likely have a new Prime Minister. A woman of the Left, no less.

Next week I will have a shiny new regimen and that is more than can be said for most Fivers around the world.

Good. After our super-short chat this morning (am for me in TX) I knew you'd be fine and that you'll be making this world more of a hellish place for a long time to come. As long as I have you and the other member of the unholy trinity around to keep me bitchy and inspired all will be good. Cheeahz

Logged

"I have tried hard--but life is difficult, and I am a very useless person. I can hardly be said to have an independent existence. I was just a screw or a cog in the great machine I called life, and when I dropped out of it I found I was of no use anywhere else."

I'm resistant to the Nukes. What of it? Philly is resistant to just about everything and still he doesn't die. I am confident that I will have ample options in the non-nuke and PI classes, not to mention the integrase inhibitor and entry inibitor classes too.

Don't bring me into your miserable little world. It's well known that my body is made of magic pixie dust. I'm living proof that incantation from Ecuadorian highland shamans work.

Darunavir/Ritonavir/Raltegravir is basically a two-drug regimen, since the Ritonavir is used only to boost the Darunavir.

You may be inviting further resistance with a two-drug regimen. I donít know what your resistance profile is, but is there a third drug you can add to this mix? Sustiva or Nevirapine (Viramune)? If you can stand injecting yourself twice a day with Fuzeon, that may be another possibility.

I have resistance to all nukes and some of the PIís but my VL has been undetectable on Darunavir/Ritonavir/Raltegravir/Sustiva for the last four years. (After over three years with Fuzeon, I swapped it for raltegravir when it became available.)

It better be, because if you fuck up then you will pay, I may only be half your size but my Scottish temper will beat your ample carraige anyday...and that goes for the rest of you, you know who you are.

Darunavir/Ritonavir/Raltegravir is basically a two-drug regimen, since the Ritonavir is used only to boost the Darunavir.

You may be inviting further resistance with a two-drug regimen. I don’t know what your resistance profile is, but is there a third drug you can add to this mix? Sustiva or Nevirapine (Viramune)? If you can stand injecting yourself twice a day with Fuzeon, that may be another possibility.

I have resistance to all nukes and some of the PI’s but my VL has been undetectable on Darunavir/Ritonavir/Raltegravir/Sustiva for the last four years. (After over three years with Fuzeon, I swapped it for raltegravir when it became available.)